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Brief description/objective

Lung cancer remains a health issue with a dismal outcome and evolution in the search of new prognostic markers and therapeutic approaches. To improve research efforts interdisciplinary and multicenter research networks are needed. For competitive translational research a large collection of samples is mandatory for histological, immunohistochemical, genetic and genomic analyses. The project proposes to create an Integrative Translational Research Network for Lung Cancer between Iasi, Romania and St. Gallen, Switzerland. A central organ of this research network will be scientific committee composed of participants of this project as representatives from involved institutes in St. Gallen and Iasi.
At the heart of the project would be the creation of a lung tissue and blood sample collection (biobank) of all patients willing to give informed consent, which are undergoing bronchoscopy, CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsies and/or surgical resection of their primary tumor or any type of metastatic lesion in their diagnostic pathway for lung cancer. This would be the first Lung Cancer Biobank and one of the first biological collections oriented towards malignant diseases in Romania. To date there a no comprehensive biobanks in Romania but only some serial collections of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens done locally by some very specialized pathology/oncology departments.
A special feature of the proposed Biobank is the collection of endobronchial biopsies, blood, and molecularly defined cell populations from tumor tissue in a quality suitable for mRNA-, DNA- and protein expression techniques, which are not possible with standard biobanks made of FFPE specimens.
The specific studies that will be performed will be determined by the binational scientific committee. The expertise of the group will guarantee knowledge transfer from St. Gallen to Romania, however within this project there will certainly be lessons learned on both sides. The long-term goal of the project is to create a center of expertise in Iasi, first of its kind in Romania, which will be able to deal with upcoming issues independently. Of course, it is in the interest of both centers to cooperate closely in research beyond the duration of this project.
This project was co-financed by a grant from Switzerland through the Swiss Contribution to the enlarged European Union.